South Florida man gives $500 to FSU fan's 'Keep Al Golden' campaign

'Marlins Man' contributes to GoFundMe campaign to raise banner during Miami-FSU game

Have Miami fans soured of Al Golden? In four seasons at Miami, Golden has compiled a pedestrian 28-22 record, but he's only .500 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Golden's best season was in 2013, when the Hurricanes were 7-0 and ranked seventh in the country before their fall from grace after a 41-14 loss to Florida State. Miami finished 2-4 in its last six games, losing to Duke for the ACC Coastal Division crown. The Hurricanes, who were once the envy of college football recruiting, have yet to even reach the ACC title game. Miami ended last season on a four-game losing streak. Another promising start that is soured by a poor finish could spell the end for Golden. (Miami Athletics)

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. ā€“ A South Florida man contributed $500 to a GoFundMe page seeking enough money to fly a banner plane supporting Miami Hurricanes football coach Al Golden during the Florida State game next month.

Florida State fan Joseph Johnson spearheaded the social media campaign in response to the "Fire Al Golden" banner that has been on display above Miami games since last season.

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"Al Golden has done a terrific job in keeping Miami irrelevant," Johnson wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Johnson's $500 goal sought enough money to raise a "Keep Al Golden" banner for an hour when the No. 10 Seminoles (3-0) host rival Miami (3-0) in Tallahassee on Oct. 10.

The goal, Johnson wrote, is "to encourage Miami not to fire" Golden.

Laurence Leavy, who lives in Fort Lauderdale and is affectionately known as "Marlins Man" for wearing bright orange Miami Marlins apparel within camera view at major sporting events, donated $500 to the cause. More than half of the money ($255) had been raised before Leavy's donation put the fundraising effort over the top.

Leavy, however, seemingly donated the money not because he is a Florida State fan, but rather because he has a soft spot for Golden. Leavy posted a link to the GoFundMe page on his Facebook page and wrote that Golden "deserves to live out his contract."

The Seminoles have won five in a row against Miami.

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